Vibration recorder



y 1947. w. w. YOUNG VIBRATION RECORDER Filed Nov. 30, 1945 IUEZW QN 5G3wESE WITNESS. W H @mm 1% ATTO/P/VfXS.

Patented May 6, 1.947

VIBRATION RECORDER Wayne W. Young, Beaumont, Tex., assignor to Sun OilCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationNovember 30, 1945, Serial No. 632,033

This invention relates to geophysical exploration and the art ofvibration recording in which vibration apparatus embodying a moving filmor tape camera is used to record indications of vibrations as obtainedon an oscillograph screen and more particularly to an improved relaycircuit for operating the camera and illuminating the oscillograph creenin timed relation to the operation of the handle of a blasting machineor the like which may be used to detonate an explosion, the vibrationeffects of which it is desired to record for future study.

In undertaking many of the various geophysical explorations so essentialto the continued discovery of new oil wells for the oil well industry ithas been common practice in the past to detonate an explosive chargedeep in the earth and simultaneously record for future study thevibration effects of the explosion as they reach the earths surface.These vibration effects may be indicated on an oscillograph oroscilloscope screen and it has also been the practice in the past toprovide sufficient illumination for theoscillograph screen to permit itto be photographed and recorded on the film or tape of a moving picturecamera or recorder. I

It has now been found desirable in connection with vibration recordingapparatus to operate the camera and illuminate the oscillograph screenin timed relation to each other and to the explosion so as to providefor a blank space on the recording tape or film before the recordings ofthe vibrations to thus enable an identification stamp or the like to beplaced on the record. Therefore, the relay circuit of this invention hasbeen devised.

' Itis a principal object of this invention to provide a vibrationrecording apparatus with an improved relay circuit which may be used inconjunction with a modified blasting machine handle to enable theautomatic operation in proper sequence and timed relation to each otherof the recording camera and electrical illuminating means for theoscillogr'aph 'screenand timing devices so that the camera motor will beoperated a short time before the oscillograph screen is suificientlyilluminated to provide the necessary illumination for photographing andrecording the vibration indications from the oscillographscreen.

It is also an object of this invention to provide therelay' circuit forsequentially operating the recording camera and oscillograph electricilluminating means with additional relay controlled means toelectrically illuminate the oscil- 4 Claims. (01. 234 -61) lographscreen for adjustment purposes prior to the operation of the cameratogether with automatic means for disconnecting the electricilluminating means upon starting the operation of the camera and beforeoperatingthe blasting machine handle.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent uponreference to the following specification and drawings in which the solefigure is a schematic wiring diagram of the improved relay circuit.

Referring to the drawing, a conventional blasting machine It) isprovided with the usual rack bar or operating handle ll. In thisinvention, however, the handle I l is modified to provide thelongitudinal'groove or cam surface .l2 which cooperates with a singlepole, single throw switch 13 in such manner that the contacts of theswitch are closed when the handle H is raised to the position shown andare opened when the handle is lowered todetonate an explosive. It shouldbe obvious that various means of operating the switch 13 and handle llmay be used. The contacts of the switch l3 are connected by a two wirecable 14, of suitable length, to the relay circuit and mechanism whichmay be contained at a remote position in an instrument truckor the like.One of the contacts of switch I3 is connected to a common conductor l5or terminal of the relay circuit which may be grounded as shown whilethe other contact is connected to the relay operating coil R1 of therelay [1 and in series with a source of potential or battery l8 and thecommon ground 15. The relay ll will be preferably of the single pole,single throw, normally closed contact type. When the relay coil R1 isenergized with the operating handle H in the position, as shown, andwith the contacts of switch l3 closed, the movable and fixed contacts ofrelay I! are moved to the open position as shown.

A manually operated single pole, single throw switch is is connected inseries with the positive terminal of the battery [8 and a rheostat isconnected in series .with the movable contact 2| of a single pole,double throw relay 22. An operating coil R2 for relay 22 is connected ina circuit in series with a source of potential such as battery 24 andcontact 25 of the camera switch 26 in such manner that upon closingswitch 26 the relay coil R2 will be energized. The relay 22 is soarranged in the circuit that its normal or unenergized position is toconnect the movable contact 2| to the conductor 21 in such manner thatwith the light switch closed the oscillograph light 28 and timing light29 will be in circuit with the battery l8 and illuminated while thedegree of illumination is controlled by the rheostat 20. The cameramotor 30 preferably is connected in parallel with relay coil R2 and whenthe camera switch 25 is closed the relay coil R2 and camera motor 30will both be energized and the movable contact 2| of relay 22 will beconnected with conductor 3| which in turn controls the movable ontact ofrelay I1. Since the fixed contact of relay I! is connected throughconductor 32 to the oscillograph and timing lights 28 and 29 they willbecome de-energized at this time.

In operating the relay circuit of this invention the handle ll of theblasting machine I is first raised to the position shown to energize therelay coil R1 and move the contacts of relay IT to the position shown tobreak the circuit between conductors 3| and 32. At this time the cameraswitch is in its open position also as shown. The recording operator inthe instrument truck may then close the manual switch I! which completesa circuit from the battery i8 through the rheostat 20, relay 22 andconductor 21 to illuminate the oscillograph and timing lights 28 and 29and thus permit any adjustments to be made to the instruments.Thereafter, camera switch 25 can be closed to complete the camera motorcircuit and start the operation of the camera while at the same timeenergizing the relay coil R2 to move the relay contact 2| and disconnectthe circuit through conductor 21 to the lights 28 and 29 and connect thebattery |8to conductor 3! which operates the camera motor 30 while thetiming and oscillograph lights are turned off. Thus, any record of theoscillograph screen is prevented from being photographed on the camerafilm or tape then moving through the camera and a blank space isprovided on the film. The blasting handle H is then lowered to detonatethe explosive and while switch 13. rides in the cam groove [2 the switchcontacts are opened to break the circuit of relay coil R1 and permit themovement of the contacts of relay [1 to their normally closed positionwhich completes a circuit to the lights 28 and 25, conductor 32. toconductor 31 which has been previously connected to the battery l8 bythe operation of the camera switch 26 and relay R2. Therefore it will beseen that the oscillograph and timing lights 28 and 29 are energized andilluminated at the time of the explosion to permit the photographing andrecording on the camera film of the vibration indications from theoscillograph screen. At the end of the recording period. the lightswitch If! and the camera. switch 26 are then opened to condition therelay circuit for the next recording operation.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Vibration recording apparatus comprising in combination, a blastingmachine having an operating handle movable to and from a detonatingposition, an oscillograph adapted to indicate the presence of vibration,means including a source of current and lights to electricallyilluminate for photographic purposes said oscillograph indications, acamera adapted to record on moving film said oscillograph' indications,relay circuit means for controlling the operation of said camera andsaid electric illumination means, said relay circuit means including amanuallyoperable switch for simultaneously operating'a relay and saidcamera, said relay being operable to disconnect said lights from saidsource of current, and a second relay being operable in response to themovement of said blasting machine handle to its detonating position toconnect said lights to said source of current and provide illuminationof said oscillograph indications.

2. Vibration recording apparatus comprising in combination, a blastingmachine having an operating handle movable to and from a detonatingposition, an oscillograph adapted to indicate the presence of vibration,means includin a source of current and lights to electrically illuminatefor photographic purposes said oscillograph indications, a cameraadapted to record on moving film said oscillograph indications, relaycircuit means for controlling the operation 01 said camera and saidelectric illumination means, said relay circuit means including amanually operable switch for simultaneously operating a relay and saidcamera, said relay being adapted to disconnect said lights from saidsource of current, and a second relay being operable in response to themovement of said blasting machine handle to its detonating position toconnect said lights to-said source of current and provide illuminationof said oscillograph indications.

3. Vibration recordin apparatus comprising in combination, a blastingmachine having an operating handle movable to and from a detonatingposition, an oscillograph adapted to indicate the presence of vibration,means including asoul'ce of current and lights to electricallyilluminate for photographic purposes said oscillograph indications, 3camera adapted to record on moving film said oscillograph indications,relay circuit means for controlling the operation of said camera andsaid electric illumination means, said relay circuit means including amanually operable switch for simultaneously operating a relay and saidcamera, the operation of said relay being adapted to disconnect saidlights from said source of current and a. second relay controlled by aswitch on said blasting machine and operable in response to the movementof said blasting machine handle to its detonating position to connectsaid lights to said source of current and provide illumination 0! saidoscillograph indications.

4. Vibration recording apparatus comprising in combination, a blastingmachine having an operating handle movable to and from a detonatingposition, an oscillograph adapted to indicate the presence of vibration,means including a. source of current and lights to electricallyilluminate for photographic purposes said oscillograph. indications, acamera adapted to record on moving fllm said osclllograph indications,relay circuit means for controlling the operation of said camera andsaid electric illumination means, said relay circuit means including amanually operable switch for connecting said lights to said battery, 3second manually operable switch for simultaneously operating a relay andsaid camera, the operation ofv said relay being adapted to disconnectsaid lights from said source of current, and a second relay controlledby a switch on said blasting machine and operable in response to themovement of said blasting machine handle to its detonating position toconnect said lights to said source of current and provide illuminationor said oscillograph indications.

WAYNE W. YOUNG.

